Have degree; please hire me

Blake Stubbs and Aaron Ruder love their parents. But as college graduates feeling it's time to make their own way in the world, they aren't particularly thrilled about moving back home.

PAUL GORDON

SECOND OF THREE PARTS

PEORIA — Blake Stubbs and Aaron Ruder love their parents. But as college graduates feeling it's time to make their own way in the world, they aren't particularly thrilled about moving back home.

"Yeah, I'm living back home with my folks again. But it's just temporary, if I have anything to say about it," said Stubbs, 23, of Pekin, a 2008 University of Illinois graduate. "But I don't want to burn through all my savings yet. At least I was able to pay off my college loans."

A political science major, he was able to work for close to a year at a video game studio in Champaign, which enabled him to make and save money while looking for work in the field he really wants, which is something in the media field.

But he was laid off in May when the economic downturn hit his company, and he has found nothing in the way of full-time work despite sending out a myriad of applications all summer long. He will soon begin a part-time gig helping to coach the speech team at Pekin High School. He also hopes to land some work as a substitute teacher.

"I guess you could say I had an extra vacation all summer, but it isn't really enjoyable when you worry about how long that extra vacation is going to last," Stubbs said.

Ruder, 22, of Germantown Hills knows the saying that some of the best waiters in the world are actors. He just didn't think he'd be working in food service at a Mexican fast-food restaurant in Peoria while trying to make it in theater.

That's what the 2009 Eureka College graduate is doing, however. "I want to try and make it as an actor professionally. That's all I've wanted for as long as I can remember. But I knew I had to save some money before heading out to New York. I just didn't expect to have so much trouble finding a full-time, good-paying job," said Ruder, who had a double major of theater and English literature.

Ruder said he believes he has a couple factors working against him. One is that his choice of college majors limits the work he can get unless he steps outside those majors.

The other, he said, is he intends to work in this area for a year or so only to save money to survive on when he heads east to try and make it as an actor.

"Peoria is a great city, but it's not where I need to be. So I'm not looking into career-type jobs right now. I have to be honest about that with any potential employer and that's going to hurt me.

"I never thought I would have a college degree and be making burritos," he said. "At the same time, I don't think anyone can totally blame my choice of majors for that. The job market is just really bad right now."

Ruder acknowledges that studies show technical-related schooling is best for finding work these days. "But that wasn't right for me," he said. "Acting is the only thing that makes me happy."

The Bureau of Labor Statistics in its 2009 Job Outlook study said there likely will be about an 11 percent growth in acting jobs between now and 2016. However, that study noted, "Competition for jobs will be stiff. The large number of highly trained and talented actors auditioning for roles generally exceeds the number of parts that become available. Only performers with the most stamina and talent will find regular employment."

Stubbs believes his choice of major, political science, is more wide open when it comes to finding work. He wasn't interested in working in politics like some of his college friends who majored in political science, but he believes it prepared him for many other possibilities, including something in media. "I wanted to maybe work in news," he said, adding that the media field can include many things.

The Bureau of Labor Statistics forecasts only small growth in the news industry over the next several years and recommends looking more beyond the traditional forms - newspapers and television - of news reporting, such as online reporting and editing.

"There's something out there for me, I'm sure of it. But right now isn't a good time to be looking for work for anybody. I just have to be patient," Stubbs said.

For now, he's looking forward to helping coach the speech team at Pekin High. He was on that team when he attended high school. "Who knows, maybe I'll find that's what I want to do. I'm open, at least right now."

Paul Gordon can be reached at 686-3288 or pgordon@pjstar.com.

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